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Polaris 550 WT LX ? #7141388
01/17/21 05:00 PM
01/17/21 05:00 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Y
yukon254 Offline OP
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yukon254  Offline OP
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Yukon
Anyone know anything about this machine? Reliability, deep snow etc? I've never owned anything Polaris. Didnt know this machine even existed until I saw one on a truck the other day. Might have to replace my VK540, its just so hard to handle. Worst machine that way that Ive ever had.


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7142176
01/17/21 11:45 PM
01/17/21 11:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 13
Sterling, Alaska
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EAH Offline
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EAH  Offline
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Sterling, Alaska
The Grandparents have two of them, they are very nice machines. I would like to get one, they are not hard to handle and good in deep snow. The 550 wide track lx has lots of pulling power.
They last a long time, it is hard to find used ones for sale. My grandparents machines are over 20 years old and going strong.

Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: EAH] #7142292
01/18/21 02:13 AM
01/18/21 02:13 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 554
Fairbanks Alaska
AKHowler Offline
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AKHowler  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 554
Fairbanks Alaska
EAH..... I'd guess your Grandparents have the Polaris WT LX with the 500 liquid cooled machines with is actually a 488 cc machine. I believe they started making the WT with the 550 fan cooled around 2015 or 16.

yukon254... a friend had the 550 and liked everything but the fuel economy. He said it handled like the old Polaris WT's. Typical utility sleds.


Alaskan #9 Trap Company
JR Pederson
PO BOX 58226
Fairbanks AK 99711
cell# 907-378-7291
pedersonjr@yahoo.com
Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7142344
01/18/21 06:39 AM
01/18/21 06:39 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,589
Timmins Ontario
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gibb Offline
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Timmins Ontario
Dave, do you not like BRP?

Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: gibb] #7142564
01/18/21 10:45 AM
01/18/21 10:45 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Y
yukon254 Offline OP
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yukon254  Offline OP
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Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Originally Posted by gibb
Dave, do you not like BRP?


Jim, I do like them, I just dont trust them. I had a WT with the 600 ACE. Loved the machine until I started having issues with it. I found that they are impossible for me to work on/diagnose in the bush. I know a lot of trappers here that run them, and they have had a lot of electrical issues. Some left them stranded. My son was up the Dempster late last fall with a couple of trapper friends hunting caribou. He runs a VK540 like mine. The other two guys were running the 900 brp skandics. Before the hunt was over he ended up pulling both those sleds back to camp. Both had electrical issues. I think thats the biggest problem with them. I talked to a dealer when they brought the VK540 back and he told me that was the reason Yamaha brought it back, the Russians were having so many issues with the four strokes that couldnt be fixed in the bush. I have to travel so far and am almost always alone, I need something that I can work on or at least diagnose. Now even the throttle on the new ones is electrical. I wish some of the other companies would follow Yamahas lead on the heated carb they put on the new VK540s. It does wonders for fuel economy. We are getting very close to the same milage that the 900 BRP is getting. What I dont like is the how the VK handles. Takes a lot of room to turn around, and you have to really ride it in deep snow, its always diving one way or the other. Very hard to steer too.


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7142601
01/18/21 11:10 AM
01/18/21 11:10 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,589
Timmins Ontario
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gibb Offline
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Timmins Ontario
I ran a Polaris 500 WT for a solid 10 years was a good machine in it’s day.
Before that l had a Yamaha Bravo LT for 12 years at least.
Both machines did me well but technology pasted them by.
Running a BRP Skandic 900 ACE WT so far l have not had a single issue with it and would not go back to either a Polaris or Yamaha.
Both Polaris and Yamaha were good machines.
I love the 4 stroke and the mileage that l get out of it.
I went from $25 a day to $10 when l made the switch to 4 stroke.
Would not go back.

Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7142642
01/18/21 12:04 PM
01/18/21 12:04 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Y
yukon254 Offline OP
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yukon254  Offline OP
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Yukon
Glad you're not having any problems Jim. My milage is really good with the new VK540 as well. Just the handling issues. The electrical issues that the guys I now have had has made the milage a non issue because they have to take the machines to the shop to get fixed. One poor fellow had to have his lifted out via chopper. I ran into a guy in town last spring that had a 600 ace. He was out bison hunting and it got cold. The machine started up fine, but soon developed problems. Luckily he had a guy with him so they towed it in. He took it to the shop and found out the oil pump had cratered. They wouldnt fix it under warranty because he had started it without plugging it in. He wasnt happy as it cost him over 4k to fix. Im sure they are like anything mechanical, good points and bad. I've been running two strokes for so long that I understand them, and knock on wood, have never had to walk yet! I have had them apart right on the trail, but was always able to get them home. Im sure my day is coming though!


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7142697
01/18/21 12:30 PM
01/18/21 12:30 PM

O
Oh Snap
Unregistered
Oh Snap
Unregistered
O



I had a 93 and 94 and they aren’t a super wide track but went anywhere I needed to go. Never any trouble. They made a change later on that I can’t remember what it was and went back to bpr.

JMO........Since I started trapping with a 1969 Olympic and have had Elans, Skandics, Tundras, Polaris and several 4 strokes. I came to the conclusion that the older SIMPLE machines were more reliable than the new electronic 4 strokes. I currently have a Bearcat 570, simple. I also am willing to use more gas for peace of mind. No mind monsters that the won't go light comes on! LOL

Last edited by Oh Snap; 01/18/21 01:56 PM.
Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7142898
01/18/21 02:42 PM
01/18/21 02:42 PM
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 1,363
Custer Co, Idaho
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sneaky Offline
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Custer Co, Idaho
I'm surprised that Qualipieces hasn't come out with a widening kit for the skis on the VK540s. Like they have for the new Tundras and Skandics


Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand
Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7142924
01/18/21 02:55 PM
01/18/21 02:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,135
Armpit, ak
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Dirt Offline
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Armpit, ak
They had 4 stroke motors way before they had sno-gos. Putting a 4stroke in a sno-go is not an advancement.


Who is John Galt?
Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7143435
01/18/21 07:23 PM
01/18/21 07:23 PM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 13
Sterling, Alaska
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EAH Offline
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Sterling, Alaska
JR you are correct, I got the two of them mixed up. The only trouble they have with their machines is wet running boards, and in March and April pulling heavy sleds to the cabin on a hard trail they would have to keep bumping the edge of the trail to keep cool.
The funny part of this thread is that I spent most of the day yesterday looking for either the 500 or 550 here in Alaska.

Last edited by EAH; 01/19/21 02:43 AM. Reason: Forgot a word
Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: EAH] #7143993
01/18/21 11:27 PM
01/18/21 11:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Y
yukon254 Offline OP
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yukon254  Offline OP
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Yukon
Originally Posted by EAH
JR you are correct, I got the two of mixed up. The only trouble they have with their machines is wet running boards, and in March and April pulling heavy sleds to the cabin on a hard trail they would have to keep bumping the edge of the trail to keep cool.
The funny part of this thread is that I spent most of the day yesterday looking for either the 500 or 550 here in Alaska.


Did you find one?


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7144001
01/18/21 11:40 PM
01/18/21 11:40 PM

O
Oh Snap
Unregistered
Oh Snap
Unregistered
O



Ice scratchers will solve the overheating.

Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7144094
01/19/21 02:41 AM
01/19/21 02:41 AM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 13
Sterling, Alaska
E
EAH Offline
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EAH  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 13
Sterling, Alaska
I did find one,a 98 with 5,263 miles for $2,700 here in sterling. And Oh Snap you are right, scratchers would be the first thing to be put on for sure.

Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7148958
01/22/21 12:27 AM
01/22/21 12:27 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 554
Fairbanks Alaska
AKHowler Offline
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AKHowler  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 554
Fairbanks Alaska
I never ran ice scratchers on mine but did pull over and throw snow on the running boards and in the undercarriage whenever I could on shallow snow years. I had 15,000 miles on my 97 WT LX when I gave it to my buddy. Don't remember how many miles I had on my 03 WT LX when I switched over to Skidoo in 2011. I ran a window fan under the hood of mine and that helped tremendously with cooling in the spring. The only reason I switched to Skidoo and the 4-strokes is that I was tired of re-jetting all the time because of elevation and temperature. Never walked home once in 20 years with that Polaris hence the name... Trusty Steed.... Here's a picture of the fan under the hood [Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
Oh.... and the Hotdoggers... miss those hot pockets...


Alaskan #9 Trap Company
JR Pederson
PO BOX 58226
Fairbanks AK 99711
cell# 907-378-7291
pedersonjr@yahoo.com
Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7163699
01/31/21 02:11 PM
01/31/21 02:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,489
Moved to Fbks, Ak.
M
martentrapper Offline
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Posts: 3,489
Moved to Fbks, Ak.
2 2017 Polaris wide tracks came up for sale 3 days ago. Posted on Craigslist and FB marketplace. 7600 each, less than 700 miles. Sold in less than 24 hours. Fairbanks area. Thinking the same person bought both. 550 motors.
I was going to check them out but was at work for the day and they sold before I could get there!

Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: martentrapper] #7163869
01/31/21 04:25 PM
01/31/21 04:25 PM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 554
Fairbanks Alaska
AKHowler Offline
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AKHowler  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 554
Fairbanks Alaska
My buddy bought both of those 2017 Polaris WT LX with the 550's. Like new. He is selling one of them. I think he said $6500. Give Aaron a call if interested. 605-645-7828


Alaskan #9 Trap Company
JR Pederson
PO BOX 58226
Fairbanks AK 99711
cell# 907-378-7291
pedersonjr@yahoo.com
Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7164401
01/31/21 09:31 PM
01/31/21 09:31 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,264
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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Boco  Offline
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james bay frontierOnt.
Be nice if Honda built a snowmachine.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7165242
02/01/21 03:24 PM
02/01/21 03:24 PM

O
Oh Snap
Unregistered
Oh Snap
Unregistered
O



They do Boco. Pioneer 700 or 1000 with tracks!

Re: Polaris 550 WT LX ? [Re: yukon254] #7165362
02/01/21 06:32 PM
02/01/21 06:32 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,264
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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james bay frontierOnt.
I'm too old to re cut all my trails double wide,lol.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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